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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) – The Houston Rockets continued their domination
of the Central Division.
|  | | Milwaukee's Glenn Robinson, right, and Houston's Walt Williams chase a loose ball in the first period. |
Steve Francis scored 29 points as the Rockets beat the Milwaukee
Bucks 108-91 Thursday night, earning their 13th straight win
against a Central Division opponent.
Shandon Anderson added 21 points for Houston. Maurice Taylor had
14 points and six Rockets finished in double figures.
Sam Cassell scored 23 points and Glenn Robinson added 19 for the
Bucks, who lost their second straight.
The Rockets are 20-4 against Eastern Conference teams.
"We should be an East team," Anderson said. "This was a big
win for us because it keeps us in our own division race."
Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich said Anderson and Francis stepped
up in the absence of the Rockets' second-leading scorer, Cuttino
Mobley, who did not play because of a strained right ankle.
"We needed somebody to step up and we got it from several
guys," Tomjanovich said. "They (Bucks) are very tough to guard.
We wanted to play like they were in mud and we were on skates."
The Rockets used a 9-0 run in the first quarter to take a 26-17
lead. Francis and Anderson each scored 10 points in the period as
the Rockets built a 30-23 advantage.
Francis added eight points in the second quarter as the Rockets
built their lead to 15. Houston led 57-45 at halftime.
"In a lot of cases, we come out expecting to win games based on
that we have beat some good teams already," Bucks guard Ray Allen
said. "That's not going to get it done. We have to come out
stronger in some of these games."
The Bucks closed within nine points in the third quarter, but
Houston built its lead back to 18 points. Milwaukee never really
mounted a charge in the fourth quarter.
"That team is not afraid of anybody in the East, and they've
been playing that way," Milwaukee coach George Karl said.
Game notes
Forward Darvin Ham was activated by the Bucks and veteran
forward Jerome Kersey was placed on the injured list with a foot
injury. He scored seven points and had five fouls in 26 minutes.
... Forward Tim Thomas did not dress for Milwaukee because of a
sore lower back. ...The Rockets are 13-0 when shooting 50 percent
or better. Houston shot 51.8 percent on Thursday.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Houston Clubhouse
Milwaukee Clubhouse
RECAPS
Seattle 101
Cleveland 99
New York 95
Boston 88
Houston 108
Milwaukee 91
San Antonio 91
Phoenix 71
Portland 94
LA Clippers 81
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